4 ms·

The Simple Algorithm That Ants Use to Build Bridges

83 points by kawera 9y ago

maskedinvader 9y ago
previous discussion on another article about the same algorithm here -> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16466908 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16466908
chopin 9y ago
How does this algorithm ensure that wide bridges are built (lets say more than 10 body lengths wide)? Even if the final bridge would be stable the intermediate steps imply a much higher torque.
- maskedinvader 9y ago
  ants have the ability to lift 5000 times their body weight [1](tiny supermen if you ask me), assuming that helps in building wide bridges and countering the higher torque (during the intermediate steps) disclaimer: not a physicist [1]:http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/5970/20140210/ants-support-5-000-times-body-weight-before-losing-heads.htm http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/5970/20140210/ants-s...
ranko 9y ago
Richard Feynman had, as ever, interesting things to say about how ants navigate and communicate[1]. He spent a long time looking at ants, following them, moving them around on bits of paper and eventually (I elide some details here) ended up with the Nobel prize in physics. [1] https://www.e-reading.club/chapter.php/71262/23/Feynman_-_Surely_Youre_Joking%2C_Mr._Feynman__Adventures_of_a_Curious_Character.html https://www.e-reading.club/chapter.php/71262/23/Feynman_-_Su...
fouc 9y ago
It would be cool if we could point cameras at ants and reverse-engineer the simplest set of rules for ant behaviour using AI/ML techniques.
- smingo 9y ago
  We could call the resultant algorithms "simulated ant kneeling".
ivanhoe 9y ago
For everyone interested in ants, there're some fantastic youtube channels dedicated to ants, AntsCanada being one of my favourite. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just a big fan of that guy's camera work. Lots to learn about ants from there.
ourmandave 9y ago
Army ants are not to be trifled with, esp. if you're a plantation owner in Brazil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiningen_Versus_the_Ants https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiningen_Versus_the_Ants

83 points by kawera 9y ago

previous discussion on another article about the same algorithm here -> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16466908 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16466908

chopin 9y ago

How does this algorithm ensure that wide bridges are built (lets say more than 10 body lengths wide)? Even if the final bridge would be stable the intermediate steps imply a much higher torque.

maskedinvader 9y ago
ants have the ability to lift 5000 times their body weight [1](tiny supermen if you ask me), assuming that helps in building wide bridges and countering the higher torque (during the intermediate steps) disclaimer: not a physicist [1]:http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/5970/20140210/ants-support-5-000-times-body-weight-before-losing-heads.htm http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/5970/20140210/ants-s...

ranko 9y ago

Richard Feynman had, as ever, interesting things to say about how ants navigate and communicate[1]. He spent a long time looking at ants, following them, moving them around on bits of paper and eventually (I elide some details here) ended up with the Nobel prize in physics. [1] https://www.e-reading.club/chapter.php/71262/23/Feynman_-_Surely_Youre_Joking%2C_Mr._Feynman__Adventures_of_a_Curious_Character.html https://www.e-reading.club/chapter.php/71262/23/Feynman_-_Su...

fouc 9y ago

It would be cool if we could point cameras at ants and reverse-engineer the simplest set of rules for ant behaviour using AI/ML techniques.

smingo 9y ago
We could call the resultant algorithms "simulated ant kneeling".

ivanhoe 9y ago

For everyone interested in ants, there're some fantastic youtube channels dedicated to ants, AntsCanada being one of my favourite. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just a big fan of that guy's camera work. Lots to learn about ants from there.

ourmandave 9y ago

Army ants are not to be trifled with, esp. if you're a plantation owner in Brazil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiningen_Versus_the_Ants https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiningen_Versus_the_Ants